Drill Team has
really made some remarkable transitions over the past 50 years and perhaps
some accelerated changes over the past 5 years. Perhaps I am old fashioned
and conservative, but some of the new moves I am not fond of and feel that
they do not portray the image we should want for young ladies today. Since
my "retirement" as a drill team director, I have had the
opportunity to attend several football and pep rally performances per
week, as well as judging contests around the country. As a by -stander in
the audience, I am able to pick up on crowd response from parents and
students -some favorable, and some not.

Those of us with
dance background perhaps have a more aesthetic appreciation for the human
body and can see the beauty in the movement of dance. But as a director, I
feel it is imperative that you be the "editor" of the choreography
before it goes to the performance area. Some of the comments from the male
audience regarding some of the suggestive steps would have to have been
censored before they reached other ears. I've seen girls taunted by their
peers because of suggestive moves.

With such a wide
range of ideas and creative movement, why should it be necessary to
encourage "catcalls" when they can earn applause and respect? We
teach our girls to walk, talk and act like a lady. Why should we allow or
even encourage them to dance like the exact reverse? Nothing is more
exciting than to see beautiful smiles on fresh, polished faces performing an
exciting and dynamic routine that pleases the audience without the bumps and
grinds or over-exposing certain body parts.

I encourage directors
as well as officers to take the time to review each routine and become an active consultant in choreography if you have not already done so. The more you participate, the more you will learn and improve with your team. I am also sure that you will gain a more exciting and respectful response from your audience.